Conventions, Meetings & Travel - 2024 Summer Internship (Full Time/Paid/Hybrid)

Compensation Details:
$22.00 per hour
Why should you join our team?
We live our values - W.E.L.I.G.H.T (Winning, Excellence, Love, Integrity, Gratitude, Humility, and Teamwork). Gratitude. Humility. Love. You don't often see values like these in most corporate statements, but Ace is different. These things are important to us. They represent our commitment to the company, our employees, to Ace retailers and to the Ace brand.
Job Description:
2024 Summer Internship Program
The Ace Internship program allows you to apply skills and knowledge you're learning in College today, while contributing in a hands-on environment to fit your career objectives, complement your academic work and enhance your learning. Here's what you will take away from your experience this summer:

• Real hands-on experience in your assigned department/function with day-to-day projects, responsibilities, accountabilities and deadlines.
• Opportunity to partner with other interns over the summer on a Capstone project, presenting your findings and recommendations to Ace's Leadership
• Q & A with Ace's CEO and Senior Leadership team
• Resume Workshop to help you prepare for future opportunities
• Opportunity to volunteer through the Ace Hardware Foundation
• Teambuilding activities and more.

Your internship experience at Ace will give you the knowledge and skills future employers will look for! Want to hear more? Please review our Glassdoor comments from former interns!
Your Responsibilities
Your primary focus as a Conventions, Meetings & Travel Intern will be in the following areas:
Convention Planning

• Convention Event Planner supports the Convention, Meetings & Travel Manager in the management of the two annual Ace conventions, and has the primary role in the development, planning, coordination, and administration of all exhibitor activities. The Convention Planner is responsible for
  • Show floor design and layouts
  • Vendor/exhibitor invoicing
  • Payment collections
  • Primary liaison with convention suppliers for execution of associated projects.
  • Graphics Development

Meetings Planning

• Corporate Meeting Planner manages, coordinates, and supports all meetings for Ace Hardware Corporation. Meetings include Midwinter Board meeting, Pinnacle retailer meeting, Oakbrook based corporate meetings and Field support meetings. The Corporate Meeting Planner also manages, coordinates, and supports the 30 to 40 Convention meetings which include those from the Field, Retailer groups and the Ace Handyman Services and Emery Jensen teams.

• Manage the Corporate Meeting Process
• Generate RFP leads and negotiates leases and service agreements for all catering and space requirements for the two annual Ace conventions, corporate meetings and any special corporate event or trade show
• Responsible for all Convention Registration activities
• Responsible for compliance of established budget designated for each of the two conventions and the budgets established by the departments requesting meeting and event assistance Convention, Event & Meeting Communication
• Effectively communicate the development of annual conventions and meetings to corporate staff & retailers.
• Negotiation of all additional service agreements
• Support collaborative relationships with other internal & external vendors

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We want to hear from you!
When most people think of career opportunities with Ace Hardware, they often think of the helpful cashiers and sales associates at their local store. However, have you also considered the people behind the scenes who select, promote, ship and process the invoices for more than 75,000 products? Maybe you haven't, but we'd like you to. Because together we help our customers take care of their homes. Come find out why a career with the Ace Hardware Corporation is one of America's best kept secrets.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Ace Hardware Corporation and its subsidiaries are committed to a policy of promoting equal employment opportunities. The company recognizes the importance of diversity and leveraging the skills and talents of all people to the mutual advantage of each individual and the organization. The company is committed to the prevention of employment discrimination related to race, religion, color, sex (including sexual harassment), gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, disability and military or veteran status, sexual orientation or any other action covered by federal or applicable state/local laws.
Disclaimer
The pay range for this position starts as listed in the job posting, but could be higher based on education and experience. Please note, compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each opening. We take into consideration the minimum requirements outlined in the job description, such as an individual's education, training and experience, the position's work location, required travel (if any), and external market conditions when determining the final salary for potential new hires.
Be aware that salary estimates published via alternate online job boards may not be a true representation of the actual pay range offered for this position. Please refer to the Ace position description for the accurate starting pay range information and feel free to discuss this with a Talent Acquisition professional if you are chosen to move forward with an interview.
This written "Position Description" is not intended to cover all aspects of the position listed. It is meant to cover the basic/general essential job functions of a particular position. Ace Hardware Corporation reserves the right to change job duties, including essential job functions, according to business necessity.